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  • Archive for July, 2015

    A NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED IN 1953 AT SOTHEBY’S

    Friday, July 10th, 2015
    The Nobel Prize awarded to Sir Hans Krebs in 1953.

    The Nobel Prize awarded to Sir Hans Krebs in 1953.

    The Nobel Prize medal awarded to Hans Krebs (1900-1981) – the scientist who explained the conversion of food into energy within the cell – comes up at Sotheby’s in London on July 14. A Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany for the UK in the early 1930’s Hans Krebs became on the most pre-eminent scientists of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1953.  The medal is being sold to benefit the Hans Krebs Trust,  established to provide grants to support refugee scientists and the training of young scientists in the biomedical sciences.  The medal is estimated at £250,000-350,000.

    UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £275,000

    A RECORD FOR LUCAS CRANACH THE ELDER AT SOTHEBY’S

    Thursday, July 9th, 2015

    Lucas Cranach the Elder’s La Bocca Della Verita (The Mouth of Truth) sold for £9.3 million at Sotheby’s in London last night.  This is a record for the master at auction, and almost  double his previous auction record.  Four paintings from the collections of Castle Howard together realized £9.1 million and earlier in the day five further works brought in £3.6 million at the Treasures sale.  The evening sale of Old Master and British Paintings realized £39.3 million.  There were six new artists records in a sale which saw participation from 30 countries. Ferdinand Bol’s Portrait of a Boy made £5.2 million and there were also records for Tiepolo whose unfinished portrait of the artist’s family made £2.8 million, a record for a single work by the artist; one of the earliest still lives by female Italian artist Feda Galizia made £1.6 million; Joseph Heintz the Elder (£485,000) and John Martin (£2.7 million).  The Treasures sale totaled £12 million.

    Alex Bell of Sotheby’s said afterwards: “As the market for Old Master & British paintings continues to evolve we’re seeing an ever more discerning and international collector base vying for a greater diversity of works. Whether it’s a work that transcend genres, such as Cranach’s masterpiece, or a ground-breaking still life created by a female artist over four centuries ago, we saw both new and established buyers from Europe, Russia and Asia competing tonight. Paintings spanning five centuries continue to surprise and excite”.

    The sale of La Bocca Della Verita

    The sale of La Bocca Della Verita last night.

    Portrait of Henry VIII, from the Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, from the Collections of Castle Howard

    Portrait of Henry VIII, from the Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, from the Collections of Castle Howard

    CLARET FROM AN EAGLE ANYONE?

    Wednesday, July 8th, 2015

    A claret jug in the form of an eagle is the opening lot at Mealy’s mid summer sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on July 15.  It is estimated at 700-1,100 in a sale of more than 600 lots of fine and decorative art. Lot 34 is The Georgian Society records volumes 1, 2 and 3 printed in Dublin in 1911 and estimated at 1,000-1,500. A full size Victorian snooker table has an estimate of 1,500-2,500 and Ken O’Neill’s Elegance on a Beach has an estimate of 500 to 800.  The catalogue is on line. Here is a taster menu.

    BERNARD DE HOOG (1867-1943), Cottage Interior (10,000-15,000).

    BERNARD DE HOOG (1867-1943), Cottage Interior (10,000-15,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,200 AT HAMMER

    A William IV Games Table (5,000-7,000).

    A William IV Games Table (5,000-7,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 4,500 AT HAMMER

    A decanter in the shape of an eagle.

    A decanter in the shape of an eagle.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 795 AT HAMMER

    The Georgian Society's Volumes 1, II and III

    The Georgian Society’s Volumes 1, II and III  UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 800 AT HAMMER

    A full size Victorian snooker table.

    A full size Victorian snooker table.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,800

    Ken O'Neill - Elegance on a Beach (500-800).

    Ken O’Neill – Elegance on a Beach (500-800).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    METAL DETECTOR FIND – A 15TH CENTURY MARRIAGE RING – AT SOTHEBY’S

    Tuesday, July 7th, 2015
    The 15th century ring.

    The 15th century ring.  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £35,000

    A 15th century marriage ring unearthed with a metal detector comes up at Sotheby’s sale of Old Master Sculpture and Works on Art in London on July 9.  It was discovered in 2013 near Launde Abbey, an Elizabethan manor house once home to Thomas Cromwell’s son and is estimated at £20,000-30,000. The ring is an exceptionally lavish example of its kind, on which the bond between husband and wife is symbolised by two different gems, a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby. The engraved sprigs on the partially enamelled shoulders of the ring are typical of a goldsmith’s work in fifteenth-century England.

    From the 12th century onwards, the site near Launde Abbey – situated in the valley of the river Chater in East Norton, Leicestershire – was occupied by a large and wealthy Augustinian Priory. Thomas Cromwell was so impressed by the building and the location that he presented it to himself after surveying it as part of the dissolution of the monasteries. His execution in 1540 prevented him from moving in. Instead his son Gregory and his wife Elizabeth Seymour, the sister of Henry VIII’s third wife Jane Seymour, took residence there.

    GEORGE CAMPBELL AT ADAMS SUMMER LOAN EXHIBITION

    Monday, July 6th, 2015
    George Campbell - Woman in a Mantilla.

    George Campbell – Woman in a Mantilla.

    The image on the right is Woman in a Mantilla by George Campbell from the summer loan exhibition at James Adam at St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin from July 7-30 and the Ava Gallery, Clandeboye, Co. Down from August 6 to September 3.  The Adams summer loan exhibition is now in its sixth  year. Curated by Karen Rehill this years show, entitled George Campbell and the Belfast boys, is the biggest summer loan exhibition to date at Adams with 150 pieces.  The focus is on George Campbell and the group of artists he gathered around him known as the Belfast Boys.

    Nothing in the show is for sale so this annual exhibition gives people access to works not normally on view in public.

    Colin Middleton RHA MBE (1910 - 1983) The Refugee (1944)

    Colin Middleton RHA MBE (1910 – 1983) The Refugee (1944)

    Gerard Dillon (1916 - 1971) Belfast after the Blitz

    Gerard Dillon (1916 – 1971) Belfast after the Blitz

    GET THEE TO A NUNNERY AUCTION

    Sunday, July 5th, 2015
    Contents from various Presentation Order convents will be offered by Lynes and Lynes in Cork on July 11.  The venue is the Presentation Convent, Turner’s Cross, Cork.  Antique furniture includes a Victorian mirror backed sideboard, a hall stand antique bookcases, chests of drawers, bentwood chairs, church pews, pine presses and tables, porcelain, glass, garden urns and numerous other items.  All lots are to be sold without reserve. Here is a small selection:

    A mirror backed sideboard.

    A mirror backed sideboard.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 680

    A hall stand.

    A hall stand.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 330

    A garden urn.

    A garden urn, one of pair. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR  100

    There is a big selection of chairs.

    There is a big selection of chairs.  UPDATE: A QUANTITY OF BENTWOOD CHAIRS MADE 100.

    IRISH ART ONLINE AUCTION

    Sunday, July 5th, 2015

    The Irish art online auction by Morgan O’Driscoll features a cross section of affordable artwork.  It runs until 6.30 p.m. on July 6 when the sale gets underway. The catalogue is online.  Here is a small selection.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 26, 2015).

    William Conor 1881-1968) - Bringing Home the Turf (3,000-4,000).

    William Conor 1881-1968) – Bringing Home the Turf (3,000-4,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER

    Markey Robinson 1918-1999) - Returning Home (2,500-3,500).

    Markey Robinson 1918-1999) – Returning Home (2,500-3,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,400 AT HAMMER

    Noel Murphy (born 1970) - Michael Collins (8,000-10,000).

    Noel Murphy (born 1970) – Michael Collins (8,000-10,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Tony O'Malley (1913-2003) - Bahamas Collage (1985) (3,500-4,500)

    Tony O’Malley (1913-2003) – Bahamas Collage (1985) (3,500-4,500)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800 AT HAMMER

    WORKS FROM CASTLE HOWARD AT SOTHEBY’S NEXT WEEK

    Saturday, July 4th, 2015
    Paintings from the collections of Castle Howard are installed at Sotheby’s London ahead of their sale on 8 July 2015, including works by Ferdinand Bol, Bernardo Bellotto and a magnificent Portrait of Henry VIII from the Workshop of Hans Holbein

    Paintings from the collections of Castle Howard at Sotheby’s including works by Ferdinand Bol, Bernardo Bellotto and the Workshop of Hans Holbein

    An image of paintings from the collections of Castle Howard being installed at Sotheby’s in London ahead of their sale on July 8, including a rare Portrait of Henry VIII from the Workshop of Hans Holbein, and a portrait by Ferdinand Bol.

    Spanning a range of periods and media, from Roman antiquities to Old Master paintings and 17th century Italian furniture, nine carefully selected works from the magnificent collections of Castle Howard will be offered.
    Works from Castle Howard will feature at the Treasures Sale and the Old Master and British Paintings evening sale on July 8.
    Yorkshire’s finest stately home and garden is familiar the world over as the incredible backdrop to the TV drama Brideshead Revisited and Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for March 29, 2015)

    A REGENCY CARD TABLE FROM FOTA HOUSE

    Saturday, July 4th, 2015
    A Regency card table once at Fota House in Cork comes up at Fonsie Mealy’s two day Chatsworth Fine Art sale in Castlecomer on July 21 and 22.  The rosewood card table has a figured fold over top with a large band of satinwood inlay.  On a platform base with four outplayed scroll legs and it is complete with original decorated bass castors. It is estimated at 1,800-2,500.
    In 1922 in Ireland the Civil War was raging and it was impossible to send silver to the Assay Office in Dublin. Silver produced by Egans in Cork between July and September of that year was stamped with a special mark.  Around 80 pieces of what became known as Republican silver were made, and they are much prized by collectors. A Republican silver salver struck with a two masted ship and an single tower castle with the makers mark W.E.  for William Egan at the auction is estimated at 8,000-10,000.  Another unusual lot is an exhibition piece of furniture – a Killarney wood cabinet with an ebonised top crested by a lying stage.  It is estimated at 10,000-15,000.  The catalogue is online.

    A Regency card table once at Fota House in Cork.

    A Regency card table once at Fota House in Cork.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,700 AT HAMMER

    A Cork Republican silver salver.

    A Cork Republican silver salver.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 7,000 AT HAMMER

    An exhibition piece of Killarney furniture surmounted by an ebonised cabinet.

    An exhibition piece of Killarney furniture surmounted by an ebonised cabinet.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 34,000 AT HAMMER

    RARE WORK BY IRISH ARTIST CHARLES COLLINS AT LONDON ART WEEK

    Friday, July 3rd, 2015
    CHARLES COLLINS  1680 - 1744 A Peacock, a Gamecock, Three Tufted Hens with Chicks and other Birds, including a Bullfinch, in a Landscape

    CHARLES COLLINS
    1680 – 1744
    A Peacock, a Gamecock, Three Tufted Hens with Chicks and other Birds, including a Bullfinch, in a Landscape

    A rare and impressive picture of a peacock and chickens by the Irish artist Charles Collins (1680-1744) is a feature of London Art Week from July 3-10.  London Art Week is the most important gallery-based celebration of traditional art, highlighting the unrivalled quality, riches and expertise available within the galleries of Mayfair and St. James’s. Bringing together over 40 leading art galleries and three auction houses, the event includes dedicated exhibitions and presents a wealth of paintings, drawings, sculpture, and works of art from antiquity to the 20th century.  A Grand Menagerie: Animals Depicted by Master Painters and Sculptors at neighbouring Duke St. galleries Rafael Valls and Tomasso Brothers depicts The Painter’s Menagerie and The Sculptor’s Menagerie.  From an exotic rhinoceros carved in coloured marble to an early study of a mouse by Jan Brueghel the Younger, the featured animals hail from all corners of the globe, and encompass the variety of wild and domestic creatures that have captured the imagination of artists for millennia. The Collins work is part of these exhibitions.

    Johnny van Haeften and Lowell Libson, Senior Committee members of London Art Week said: “’London Art Week’ is a key moment of the year which celebrates the resounding importance of the art gallery. It also highlights the position of Mayfair and St. James’s as the global centre of the traditional art market, and the leading destination for expertise. We look forward to welcoming collectors, curators and enthusiasts to this year’s event which will offer the strongest and most diverse selection of art to date.”